Strikes can be very light during winter. Successful anglers often keep their eyes focused on their line to see strikes instead of relying on their rod to feel the bite. Fluorescent lines make seeing the line easy, but some anglers think it spooks the fish. Get the best of both worlds by spooling your reel with fluorescent, high-visibility line and tying a 2- to 3-foot leader of clear or low-visibility line at the end using a double overhand knot.

West-Central Arkansas

Lake Dardanelle — Chuck Morrison at Classic Catch Guide Service (479-774-9117) said main lake temperatures have been in the mid-40s. The water is stained, but is clearing. The best technique has been to fish a jerk bait or green/chartreuse Baby Bee crankbait slowly. Anglers have found a few bass upriver in the backwater areas on jigs. White bass were biting fairly well on Rat-L-Traps and jerk baits in clear water. Some smaller bass were caught in the backwater at Spadra on jerk baits, and some better fish were caught up in the creek on black grape trick worms. From Cabin Creek down to the lower end of the lake, the Alabama Rig and jigs have been catching the better fish. Near the outlet of the nuclear plant, slow rolling a spinnerbait and a Rat-L-Trap has produced some decent fish. Clown-colored Smithwick jerk baits are doing well in the strip pits along with an Alabama rig. Catfish are biting well on cut shad all up and down the river. Crappie are still doing well in Piney Bay, Shoal Bay, the outlet of the nuclear plant and the strip pits. The best place for stripers has been the outlet of the nuclear plant; try white jigs with grub jerk baits and Rat-L-Traps.

Emergency commercial fishing closure — Commercial catfishing is temporarily closed on Blue Mountain Lake because of the extreme low water conditions. Commercial fishermen will not be able to harvest any species of catfish from Blue Mountain Lake through noon, March 1, 2013. Other commercial fish species may still be harvested.

The lake level is on the rise. Access is possible off the concrete ramp at Waveland Park. Folks are still fishing off the makeshift ramp off the river bank and catching crappie and catfish. Water clarity is still turbid, but that has not affected fishing success.

Harris Brake Lake — Harris Brake Lakeside Resort (501-889-2745) said the water is high and the water clarity is about 2 feet of visibility. Bream are biting well on crickets fished near brush along the shoreline. Crappie are biting well around the docks on minnows. No report on bass or catfish.

Lake Overcup — Overcup Landing (501-354-9007) filed no report.

Brewer Lake — Overcup Landing (501-354-9007) had no report.

Arkansas River at Morrilton — Charley’s Hidden Harbor in Oppelo said catfishing is very good on shad-and-worm combos fished on the bottom near deep holes. Stripers are being caught below the dams on wobble spoons. White bass are fair below the dam on jigs. Sauger are being caught below the dam on yellow/red speck rigs.

Arkansas and White river levels are available at: http://water.weather.gov/ahps2/index.php?wfo=lzk

For real-time information on stream flow in Arkansas from the U.S. Geological Survey, visit: http://waterdata.usgs.gov/ar/nwis/rt

For water quality statistics (including temperature) in many Arkansas streams and lakes, visit: http://waterdata.usgs.gov/ar/nwis/current/?type=quality

For Family and Community Fishing Program: Trout have been stocked in all Family and Community Fishing Program ponds. They will hit a variety of lures, including Power Bait, frozen shrimp, nightcrawlers and small jigs and spinners.

Click http://www.agfc.com/fishing/Pages/FishingProgramsFCF.aspx for a list of program ponds and up-to-date stocking information.